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Interoperability via Protocols for Using Dedicated Multi Service Talk Groups on the Airwave Service
Jim Flooks – User Assurance Co-ordinator, ACPO / ACPOS
The role that Airwave is playing at bring interoperability to the blue light services was looked at by Jim Flooks and he said that while the services were “coping” this wasn’t enough anymore and they must actively use Airwave to their advantage. Interoperability is vital to ensure the most effective forms of communications are used at major incidents but it is also important to make sure the right people are talking to one another and doing so securely.
The importance of setting up a common communications platform had to be balanced by understanding it is not necessary for all to be involved and that some organisations do not need to be on the system, helping to make it is efficient as possible.
Progress of the integration of a common communication platform is moving forward, with acceptance by the police service and around 80% of systems upgraded to handle the recommended national Fleetmap load and although there are still some capacity issues these should be resolved in time. However, as Jim pointed out with various approval processes to go through as well as the implementation of the technology it would not be expected to come in quickly.
Referring to a phrase used in the opening talk Jim said that communication between blue light services would become more natural as ‘muscle memory’ was built up and this would lead the services becoming far more used to communicating with one another as standard at incidents.
